2nd Quarter Pre Assessment
TLI
Questions and Answers
- 1.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! As it is used in paragraph 6, what is the best meaning for aroma?
- A.
Hot temperature
- B.
Wonderful smell
- C.
Ancient Aztecs
- D.
Glossy leaves
Correct Answer
B. Wonderful smellExplanation
In paragraph 6, the word "aroma" is used to describe the typical smell experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. Therefore, the best meaning for "aroma" in this context is a wonderful smell.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! Which is the best way to summarize the needs of the cacao tree?
- A.
The cacao tree needs warm climate, fertile soil, regular rainfall, wind protection, and shade.
- B.
The cacao tree needs cool climate, wellirrigated soil, regular rainfall, and plenty of sunshine.
- C.
The cacao tree needs cold, dry air, shade, well-irrigated soil, and lots of sun.
- D.
The cacao tree needs warm climate, fertile soil, dry air, and plenty of sun.
Correct Answer
A. The cacao tree needs warm climate, fertile soil, regular rainfall, wind protection, and shade. -
- 3.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! Why are the words machete and xocolatl written in italics?
- A.
To suggest some new activities
- B.
To indicate someone is talking
- C.
To identify titles of books
- D.
To show words from another language
Correct Answer
D. To show words from another languageExplanation
The words "machete" and "xocolatl" are written in italics to show that they are words from another language. This formatting helps to distinguish them from the rest of the text and indicates that they are not in the same language as the surrounding English text.Rate this question:
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- 4.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! According to the passage, how many seeds does each cacao pod contain?
- A.
Between 5 and 12
- B.
About 30 to 40
- C.
Usually 4 to 5
- D.
Around 20 to 25
Correct Answer
B. About 30 to 40Explanation
Each cacao pod contains about 30 to 40 seeds.Rate this question:
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- 5.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! Based on the passage, what is the correct sequence for harvesting the cocoa bean?
- A.
Slice pod open, scoop out beans, clean beans, grade beans, dry beans, pack beans, ship beans
- B.
Slice pod open, grade beans, dry beans, scoop out beans, clean beans, pack beans, ship beans
- C.
Slice pod open, grade beans, clean beans, dry beans, scoop out beans, pack beans, ship beans
- D.
Slice pod open, scoop out beans, dry beans, clean beans, grade beans, pack beans, ship beans
Correct Answer
D. Slice pod open, scoop out beans, dry beans, clean beans, grade beans, pack beans, ship beansExplanation
The correct sequence for harvesting the cocoa bean is to first slice the pod open, then scoop out the beans. After that, the beans need to be dried, cleaned, graded, packed, and finally shipped.Rate this question:
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- 6.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! To learn about a certain variety of cocoa bean, a person should consult a
- A.
Book about South American trees.
- B.
Web site about South American countries.
- C.
Magazine article about travel to the equator
- D.
Television program about South American farmers.
Correct Answer
A. Book about South American trees.Explanation
The correct answer is a book about South American trees. This is because the passage provides information about the cacao tree, which is found in South and Central America. Therefore, a book about South American trees would likely have information about the cacao tree and its variety of cocoa beans.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! Which statement has support from the passage?
- A.
More people like brown chocolate than white chocolate.
- B.
Cocoa beans were once considered valuable.
- C.
Chocolate is more popular in South America than in Asia.
- D.
Ancient Aztecs hated cocoa beans.
Correct Answer
B. Cocoa beans were once considered valuable.Explanation
The passage mentions that cocoa beans have been traded for wanted items almost like money, indicating that cocoa beans were once considered valuable.Rate this question:
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- 8.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! According to the passage, what is the best meaning for the word ingredient as it is used in the first paragraph?
- A.
Required part
- B.
Important idea
- C.
Difficult activity
- D.
Useless item
Correct Answer
A. Required partExplanation
The passage states that the main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean. This suggests that the word "ingredient" in the first paragraph refers to a required part or component of something.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The Cacao or "Chocolate" Tree by Swapna Dutta Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is "Theobroma Cacao”? The main ingredient used to make chocolate is the cocoa bean which comes from the cacao tree. Cacao trees grow close to the equator. They are found in South and Central America, Africa, and parts of Asia where it is warm and wet. The tree needs regular rainfall and fertile, well-irrigated soil. The cacao tree has large glossy leaves. They are red when young and turn green as they grow. The tree sprouts thousands of tiny flowers, pink or white in color, that cluster together on the trunk and branches. The trees are delicate and need to be protected from the wind. They require a fair amount of shade. The cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long. They start producing fruit when they are between 4 and 5 years old. The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod. They are usually egg- or melon-shaped and are 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. Each cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. The beans grow on the inside of the cacao pods. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa! The cacao pod is harvested twice a year. The pods are sliced open with a long, heavy knife called a machete, and the beans scooped out and left to dry in the sun. The beans are covered by a white coating. The pods can be many colors, depending on the variety of the bean. They can be bright yellow, orange, or various shades of green and red. 6 But chocolate cannot be made directly from the cocoa beans because they taste very bitter. In fact the word "chocolate" comes from the ancient Aztec’s word xocolatl, which means "bitter water." After the beans are taken out of their pods, they are laid out on screen racks in the sun and covered with banana leaves. They are left like this for a few days to make them soft and pulpy. This process reduces their bitterness and also removes the white coating. It does something else that is very important. It helps develop the typical aroma experienced when a package of chocolate is first opened. The beans are dried and cleaned. After that they are ready to be graded (chosen by size and quality), packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products. Though cacao trees only grow around the equator, the beans are shipped to places all over the world. Then, in chocolate factories, they are roasted and ground into a thick syrup which is still quite bitter. It has to be processed and made fit to eat. After it is mixed with sugar and many other tasty things, it is poured into molds. Just before the mixture is ready to eat, cold air is blown over it to make it quite dry. The chocolate bars are then taken out of the molds and are ready to place in wrappers or simply eat. The syrup is also used in many delicious drinks, yummy candies, and tasty desserts. Chocolate has been a well-loved snack all around the world for the last two hundred years. Soldiers have carried familiar brown chocolate bars onto the battlefield for a quick energy snack while fighting. Cocoa beans have even been traded for wanted items almost like money. The “change” would be used to make chocolate drinks. Cocoa beans from the cacao tree are a pretty popular fruit! According to the passage, when does the cacao tree produce flowers and fruits?
- A.
In the spring
- B.
During the summer
- C.
All year
- D.
Twice a year
Correct Answer
C. All yearExplanation
The passage states that the cacao trees produce flowers and fruits all year long.Rate this question:
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